"In turbulent times, in times of great change, people head for the two extremes: fundamentalism and personal, spiritual experience...With no membership lists or even a coherent philosophy or dogma, it is difficult to define or measure the unorganized New Age movement. But in every major U.S. and European city, thousands who seek insight and personal growth cluster around a metaphysical bookstore, a spiritual teacher, or an education center." - John Naisbitt

The History and Origins of The New Age Philosophy and Movement

New Age teachings became popular during the 1970's as a reaction against what some perceived as the failure of Christianity and the failure of Secular Humanism to provide spiritual and ethical guidance for the future. Its roots are traceable to many sources: Astrology, Channeling, Hinduism, Gnostic traditions, Hermeticism, Spiritual Alchemy, Spiritualism, Taoism, Theosophy, Wicca and other Neo-pagan traditions, along with various aspects of Alternative Science and Healing, etc. The movement started in England in the 1960's where many of these elements were well established. Small groups, such as the Findhorn Community in Inverness and the Wrekin Trust were formed. The movement quickly became international.

This is not to say that the 'Esoteric' information is actually hidden or kept secret deliberately. The information is out there in plain sight in its 'exoteric' or outer form, but there is also a deeper meaning to all things--or a 'esoteric' or inner understanding. To understand esoteric or 'inner information', one must have (inner) eyes to see, and (inner) ears to hear

It is not the information or ideas of any religious, spiritual, esoteric or occult/hidden understanding, new age system or personal practice that really matters; but instead, it is what one does with that information--or what one intends to do with that information or knoweldge--that is key.

New Age Spirituality, Personal Choice and Responsibility

All individuals have the ability to choose between what is true, right and good, as opposed to what is not true, false or bad. That which is labeled as 'good' is really good is simply that which is of benefit to the whole, or which serves a higher purpose, helps and creates harmony. That which is labeled as 'bad' is simply anything that which is not of benefit to the whole, or which serves a selfish purpose, harms or creates dis-harmony.

It makes no difference what that individual's personal religious or spiritual belief systems are--or lacktherof. Just because someone who claims to be a Christian, Muslim, Atheist, etc., commits a wrong or makes a poor choice, does not indicate that Christianity, Islam, or Atheism in itself, is bad or the 'wrong' spiritual path; similarly, just because someone claims to adhere to a certain principle or idea of a religion or alternative spiritual tradition and chooses to take a negative action, does not make the principle or idea in itself void of any positive outcome if used for a good purpose or intention. The same applies for an individual who chooses to follow a 'new age' or any alternative set of beliefs.

If an individual of any religion, spiritual tradition, or alternative belief does something dis-harmonous or harms another does not make that particular religion, belief system or spiritual path wrong or harmful. Again, intention is the key.

In other words, plain and simple: It does not matter whether an individual chooses to follow, believe in, or study Christianity, Buddhism, New Age Philosophy, or any Eastern or Western religion, spiritual tradition, movement, belief system or philosophy, if that particular path or belief system is helping them to improve their mental, emotional, physical or spiritual health and well being, and is assisting them by opening up to a more loving way of being and perceiving the world, themselves and others, and is improving the quality of their thoughts and actions and helping them to become a more conscious and considerate human being overall.